聯合國糧農組織下修2012全球稻米產量預測 UN food agency lowers 2012 global rice forecast

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation（FAO）revised down its global rice forecast for 2012 on Monday due to low monsoon rainfall in India, but said world output should still be greater than in 2011.

聯合國糧農組織（FAO）基於印度季風降雨量減少，週一下修2012年全球稻米產量預測，但表示全球產量應仍會高於2011年。

The 2012 forecast has been revised down by 7.8 million tonnes "due to a 22-percent lower-than-average monsoon rainfall in India through mid-July, which is likely to reduce output in the country this season," the Rome-based FAO said.

總部設於羅馬的FAO說，2012年稻米產量預測已下修780萬公噸，「原因是印度7月中的季風降雨量比平均低22%，這可能會讓印度本季的產量降低」。

Production forecasts have also been reduced for Cambodia, Taiwan, North and South Korea, and Nepal, according to the July 2012 issue of the Rice Market Monitor, which was published by the food agency on Monday.

根據FAO週一發布的2012年7月版「稻米市場監測」報告，柬埔寨、台灣、北韓、南韓與尼泊爾的產量預測也一併調降。

However, world output is still expected to surpass "the excellent results achieved in 2011," with production forecast to total 724.5 million tonnes.

然而，全球產量預料仍將超越「2011年達成的卓越結果」，產量預計總共將達到7億2450萬公噸。

In price terms, rice has remained "surprisingly stable" after gaining two percent in May, in sharp contrast with maize and wheat markets, it said.

FAO說，在價格方面，在5月上漲2%後 ，稻米價格呈現「令人驚訝的穩定」，與玉蜀黍和小麥市場形成強烈對比。

"Amid abundant rice supplies and stocks, the likelihood of a strong price rebound in coming months is minimal, but the future direction of rice prices remains uncertain," the agency added.（AFP）

「在稻米供應與庫存充足的情況下，價格在未來幾個月強力反彈的可能性很低，但稻米價格未來的走向仍不確定」，該署補充說。（法新社）

新聞辭典

monsoon：名詞，（印度的）季風；雨季。例句：Heavy rains occur during a summer monsoon.（暴雨出現在一個夏季季風期。）

output：名詞，輸出；產量。例句：The output of the factory this year has increased by 20 percent as compared with last year.（這家廠今年的產量比去年增加了20%。）

abundant：形容詞，豐富的；充足的。例句：The country is abundant in natural resources.（這個國家天然資源豐富。）